A 31-year-old man has appeared before magistrates charged with murder and 13 counts of attempted murder after a series of alleged hit-and-runs in Cardiff.

Matthew Tvrdon is also accused of four counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and dangerous driving. He was remanded in custody and is due to appear via video-link at Newport crown court on Tuesday.

A small crowd gathered outside court on Monday morning to see Tvrdon driven to the hearing.

Eight victims, four of them children, remain in hospital after the incident, which happened at school pick-up time on Friday. Two of the adults are said to be in a critical condition.

During the five-minute hearing Tvrdon, whose hands were cuffed behind his back when he was led into court, was asked to confirm his name and that he was of no fixed address. He told the court: "Unfortunately, at the moment I was between moving out."

Karina Menzies was killed outside Ely fire station. Photograph: PA

Karina Menzies, 32, was killed when she was hit by a van outside Ely fire station west of the city centre.

Hundreds of people gathered on Sunday night for a service at the Church of the Resurrection in Ely, while about 200 people visited the scene of Menzies' death to hold a minute's silence.

Menzies' family released a tribute through police, saying: "Karina was a lovely girl. She lived for her kids and her brothers and sisters and everything she did was for her family.

"She was a good friend to everyone and was well thought of in the community. She will be sorely missed by everyone."

Police thanked the public for the support that had been offered.

Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley said: "South Wales police has been overwhelmed by the support we have received from the community. We wish to express our sincere thanks to the many people who have come forward to give information, provide witness accounts, and offer both CCTV and mobile phone footage of Friday's traumatic and tragic events."

He said that while Tvrdon had been charged, the investigation was still continuing.

Catrin Evans, head of complex casework unit for the Crown Prosecution Service in Wales, said on Sunday: "With legal proceedings now under way, I would like to stress that the defendant retains the right to a fair trial.

"It is important that the criminal justice process is allowed to run its course without hindrance and I would therefore ask that nothing is placed in the public domain that may undermine this."